VANCOUVER -- The BC Lions announced today that receiver Paris Jackson and defensive back Korey Banks have signed contract extensions with the team. Both Jackson and Banks were set to enter the option year of their previous deals.

“Paris and Korey provide unique veteran leadership qualities that are a big part of our success on the field,” said vice president of football operations and GM Wally Buono. “These are important contract extensions that keep the core of our team intact and provide opportunities for individuals to help us win a championship.”

Jackson played a valuable reserve role in 2012 helping to develop the club’s strong young receiving corps. In spot duty on offence he caught 10 passes for 127 yards, many coming in key situations. He played all 18 regular season games for the seventh time in his Lions career along with the Western Final, his twelfth career playoff game.

Over his 10 seasons including two championships, Paris has 410 catches for 5,660 yards with 31 TDs and ranks eighth on the Lions’ all-time receiving list in career yardage. Only three players have caught more passes in a Lions uniform.

“When two of your longest-serving players are also two of your most competitive, then it bodes well from a leadership standpoint,” said head coach Mike Benevides. “Both Paris and Korey have the kind of drive and determination that provide the foundation of success which our young players look to for guidance.”

Banks continued his outstanding defensive play in 2012 with 50 tackles, five tackles for a loss, an interception and a fumble recovery. He led the entire CFL in pass knockdowns with 10 and was named to both the West Division and CFL All-Star squads. Korey also notched a career-long 77-yard interception return for a touchdown versus Calgary in the Western Final.

In seven seasons with the Lions, Banks has missed just one contest and has stretched his current streak to 102 consecutive games played. He is the only player in club history to be named a division all-star in each of his first seven seasons with the club and has eight such honours overall. A five-time CFL All-Star, Korey has grabbed 35 interceptions since 2005, more than any other active CFL player.